Weigela plant named ‘VUKOZ90345’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Weigela  plant named ‘VUKOZ90345’ is disclosed, characterized by abundant pink flowers and plants which re-bloom. The new variety is a  Weigela , normally produced as an outdoor garden plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Weigela hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘VUKOZ90345’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Weigela cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Vojtech Benetka in Pruhonice, Czech Republic.The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Weigelavarieties with a low growth habit. The cross resulting in this newvariety was made in 1990.

The seed parent is the unpatented Weigela ‘Eva Supreme’. The pollenparent is the unpatented, proprietary Weigela ‘87-8-1’. The new varietywas identified as a potentially interesting selection in 1994, at aresearch nursery in Pruhonice, Czech Republic.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘VUKOZ90345’ by softwoodcuttings was first performed in 1994, at a research nursery inPruhonice, Czech Republic. Subsequent propagation has shown that theunique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to typein five successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘VUKOZ90345’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘VUKOZ90345’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘VUKOZ90345’ as a new and distinct Weigelacultivar:

-   -   1. Pink flowers.    -   2. Rich flowering.    -   3. Re-blooming of flowers.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VUKOZ90345’ are similar to plants of theseed parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘VUKOZ90345’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. New cultivar has pink flowers, whereas the seed parent has        crimson flowers.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VUKOZ90345’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘VUKOZ90345’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. New cultivar has pink flowers, whereas the parent has dark        pink flowers.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘VUKOZ90345’ can be compared to the patentedcommercial variety Weigela ‘Bokrasopea’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,585).These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics;however ‘VUKOZ90345’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. New cultivar has lighter pink flowers than this comparator.    -   2. New cultivar has larger flowers than this comparator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘VUKOZ90345’ grown in a 2 gallon container.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the same plant. Age of the plantphotographed is approximately 2 years.

FIG. 3 illustrates a close up view of flowers and foliage.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 1996 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘VUKOZ90345’ plants grown in a polyhouse inGrand Haven, Mich. Measurements were taken during late Spring. Theplants were 2 years old. The growing temperature ranged fromapproximately 5° C. to 27° C. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Weigela hybrida ‘VUKOZ90345’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: Approximately 15 days.-   Root description: Density is dense and freely branching. Thin root    thickness. White in color, not effectively measured with a color    chart.-   Time to produce a rooted young plant: Approximately 60 days.

PLANT

-   Plant type: Shrub.-   Age of plant described: Approximately 2 years old.-   Growth habit: Medium, compact growth.-   Pot size of plant described: 2 gallon container.-   Overall plant shape: Upright and rounded.-   Height: 76 cm.-   Plant spread: 82 cm.-   Growth rate: Medium.-   Plant vigor: Strong.-   Branching characteristics: Opposite.-   Length of primary lateral branches: Average 64 cm.-   Diameter of lateral branches: 8.0 mm.-   Quantity of lateral branches: 25.-   Stem:    -   -   Stem appearance.—Round.        -   Stem strength.—Good.        -   Color.—Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B blended with RHS            Greyed-Brown 199A.        -   Pubescence.—Yes.-   Internode length: Range is 3.3 to 4.3 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf shape.—Ovate-oblanceolate.        -   Average length.—Approximately 5.5 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 2.5 cm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Serrulate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Slight pubescence.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Pubescent, to a greater extent            than upper surface.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Green 138B. Mature foliage            upper side: Near RHS Green 137A. Mature foliage under side:            Near RHS Green 138B.        -   Venation.—Pattern: Pinnate. Color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 145A. Color under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green            145C.        -   Petiole.—Length: 2.5 mm. Diameter: 1.5 mm. Petiole color            upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145A. Petiole color lower            side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145C. Petiole Texture:            Pubescent.        -   Foliage durability.—Very durable.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Late spring to summer.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Umbel to panicle.-   Inflorescence height: 8.0 cm.-   Inflorescence width: 6.0 cm.-   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: 18 to 22.-   Quantity of flowers per plant: Hundreds.-   Individual flowers:    -   -   Flower shape.—Salverform.        -   Flower aspect.—Upward and slightly outward.        -   Flowering arrangement.—Single salverform flower.        -   Size.—Diameter: Approximately 2.2 cm. Depth: Approximately            3.0 cm.        -   Flower other characteristics.—Persistence: Self cleaning.            Fragrance: Slight sweet scent.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Obovate to spatulate.        -   Length.—2.8 cm.        -   Diameter.—8.0 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Red-Purple 63A fading to near RHS Red-Purple            63B towards the base of the bud.-   Petal:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—Whorled, fused at opening of throat.        -   Number of petals per flower.—5.        -   Petal shape.—Obovate to oblanceolate.        -   Petal base.—Fused at throat.        -   Margin.—Entire, slightly undulate.        -   Tip shape.—Obtuse.        -   Length.—1.0 cm.        -   Width.—0.8 cm.        -   Texture.—Upper: Smooth. Lower: Smooth.        -   Flower tube.—Length: 3.0 cm. Diameter, base: 2.0 mm. Color:            near RHS Red-Purple 66C.        -   Throat.—Texture: Smooth. Color: near RHS Red-Purple 66C.-   Petal color:    -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 63C. Lower            surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 63B.        -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: Near RHS Red-Purple 63B with            edges near RHS Red-Purple 63D. Lower surface: Near RHS            Red-Purple 70C blended with near RHS Red-Purple 66C.        -   Fades to.—Near RHS Red-Purple 63B with edges near RHS Brown            200C.-   Sepal:    -   -   Arrangement.—Unguiculate, fused at base.        -   Appearance.—Long, narrowly triangular.        -   Number.—5.        -   Shape.—Narrowly triangular.        -   Tip.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—7 mm.        -   Width.—1 mm.        -   Texture, upper.—Smooth, coriaceous.        -   Texture, lower.—Smooth, coriaceous.        -   Color.—Upper surface at maturity: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B            blended with near RHS Yellow-Green 146B. Under surface at            maturity: Near RHS Yellow-Green 145B blended with near RHS            Red-Purple 63A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143C.        -   Orientation.—Upright and outward.        -   Strength.—Good.        -   Texture.—Smooth, coriaceous, slightly pubescent.-   Pedicel:    -   -   Length.—1.9 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 mm.        -   Angle.—Upright and outward.        -   Strength.—Good.        -   Texture.—Smooth, coriaceous, slightly pubescent.        -   Color.—Near RHS Green 143C.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—5.        -   Filament length.—2.7 cm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS White 155B.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Linear, slightly oblong.        -   Length.—5 mm.        -   Color.—Near RHS White 155B.        -   Pollen color.—Near RHS White 155B.        -   Pollen amount.—Some.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1 per flower.        -   Length.—4.0 cm.        -   Stigma.—Color: Near RHS White 155B. Shape: Globular,            flat-bottomed.        -   Style.—Length: 3.9 cm. Color: Near RHS White 155B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    normal diseases and pests of Weigela have been observed aside from    mildew resistance.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety tolerates temperatures    between −31° C. to 38° C.-   Environmental stressors: Good resistance to wind and rain.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Weigela hybridaplant named ‘VUKOZ90345’ as herein illustrated and described.